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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Mitigation of X-ray shadow seeding of hydrodynamic instabilities on inertial confinement fusion capsules using a reduced diameter fuel fill-tube

We report a reduced X-ray shadow imprint of hydrodynamic instabilities on the high-density carbon ablator surface of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsules using a reduced diameter fuel fill tube on the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The perturbation seed mass from hydrodynamic instabilities was reduced by approximately an order of magnitude by reducing both the diameter and wall thickness of the fill tube by ~2×, consistent with analytical estimates. Overall, this work demonstrates a successful mitigation strategy for engineered features for ICF implosions on the NIF.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Isotachophoresis system having larger-diameter channels flowing into channels with reduced diameter and with selectable counter-flow

An isotachophoresis system for separating a sample containing particles into discrete packets including a flow channel, the flow channel having a large diameter section and a small diameter section; a negative electrode operably connected to the flow channel; a positive electrode operably connected to the flow channel; a leading carrier fluid in the flow channel; a trailing carrier fluid in the flow channel; and a control for separating the particles in the sample into discrete packets using the leading carrier fluid, the trailing carrier fluid, the large diameter section, and the small diameter section.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Synthesis of Silver Nanowires with Reduced Diameters Using Benzoin-Derived Radicals to Make Transparent Conductors with High Transparency and Low Haze

Reducing the diameter of silver nanowires has been proven to be an effective way to improve their optoelectronic performance by lessening light attenuation. The state-of-the-art silver nanowires are typically around 20 nm in diameter. Here in this paper we report a modified polyol synthesis of silver nanowires with average diameters as thin as 13 nm and aspect ratios up to 3000. The success of this synthesis is based on the employment of benzoin-derived radicals in the polyol approach and does not require high-pressure conditions. The strong reducing power of radicals allows the reduction of silver precursors to occur at relatively low temperatures, wherein the lateral growth of silver nanowires is restrained because of efficient surface passivation. The optoelectronic performance of as-prepared 13 nm silver nanowires presents a sheet resistance of 28 Ω sq -1 at a transmittance of 95% with a haze factor of ~1.2%, comparable to that of commercial indium tin oxide (ITO).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Reduced Diameter and Lined Cladding Production Status

A contract has been placed with Century Tube Inc. to produce cladding for the FAST experiment. Excess EBR II cladding tubes will be cold drawn down to 0.115 in. diameter × 0.009 in. wall and 0.077 in. × 0.006 in. wall. Lined cladding will also be tested in the FAST experiment. Century Tube will produce several samples, varying assembly the assembly process, with solid zirconium or vanadium rods inside of the HT9. Cladding/liner bonding of each will be evaluated using microscopy. The best one will be further processed to form a liner tube within the cladding. A shrink fit approach is also being developed, where a solid zirconium or vanadium bar is shrunk fit into a cladding piece. This process has shown favorable results and will be compared against the co drawn samples when available.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Mitigation of cross-beam energy transfer: Implication of two-state focal zooming on OMEGA

Cross-beam energy transfer (CBET) during OMEGA low-adiabat cryogenic experiments reduces the hydrodynamic efficiency by ∼35%, which lowers the calculated one-dimensional (1-D) yield by a factor of 7. CBET can be mitigated by reducing the diameter of the laser beams relative to the target diameter. Reducing the diameter of the laser beams by 30%, after a sufficient conduction zone has been generated (two-state zooming), is predicted to maintain low-mode uniformity while recovering 90% of the kinetic energy lost to CBET. A radially varying phase plate is proposed to implement two-state zooming on OMEGA. A beam propagating through the central half-diameter of the phase plate will produce a large spot, while a beam propagating through the outer annular region of the phase plate will produce a narrower spot. To generate the required two-state near-field laser-beam profile, a picket driver with smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD) would pass through an apodizer, forming a beam of half the standard diameter. A second main-pulse driver would co-propagate without SSD through its own apodizer, forming a full-diameter annular beam. Hydrodynamic simulations, using the designed laser spots produced by the proposed zooming scheme on OMEGA, show that implementing zooming will increase the implosion velocity by 25% resulting in a 4.5× increase in the 1-D neutron yield. Demonstrating zooming on OMEGA would validate a viable direct-drive CBET mitigation scheme and help establish a pathway to hydrodynamically equivalent direct-drive–ignition implosions by increasing the ablation pressure (1.6×), which will allow for more stable implosions at ignition-relevant velocities.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of the Molten Salt Tritium Transport Experiment Test Section

Tritium, a radionuclide produced through neutron capture by lithium and other elements (beryllium and fluoride) in molten salts, presents unique challenges to radionuclide release. This is true for both fusion energy breeder blankets and molten salt fission reactors. The fundamental understanding of tritium transport is crucial to the safe design and operation of these reactors. The Molten Salt Tritium Transport Experiment (MSTTE), currently under construction at Idaho National Laboratory, aims to investigate tritium transport phenomena using a forced-convection fluoride salt loop. This loop is designed to study various transport mechanisms, such as permeation through metals and gas-liquid interactions, and is intended to support future research on tritium extraction units. A critical aspect of the MSTTE loop design is ensuring a fully developed velocity profile before the fluid reaches the permeation test section where measurements are made. This study employs computational fluid dynamics to model the salt flow behavior within the MSTTE permeation test section. A realizable k-ε turbulent model with enhanced wall treatment is used to simulate the single-phase, vertical upward flow of molten salt FLiNaK under isothermal conditions. The simulation results indicated flow distortion and underdeveloped profiles at all planned flow rates within the test section due to the 85-deg sharp bend. To address this issue, a reduced diameter with a reducer and expander and a flow conditioner are investigated to achieve fully developed flow. The analysis showed that the flow conditioner successfully corrected the flow profile, achieving fully developed behavior at a flow rate of 50 liters per minute (LPM). In conclusion, this research enhances our understanding of flow dynamics in molten salt systems and contributes to optimizing tritium transport control technologies.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Impact of x-ray dose on the response of CR-39 to 1–5.5 MeV alphas

The CR-39 nuclear track detector is used in many nuclear diagnostics fielded at inertial confinement fusion (ICF) facilities. Large x-ray fluences generated by ICF experiments may impact the CR-39 response to incident charged particles. To determine the impact of x-ray exposure on the CR-39 response to alpha particles, a thick-target bremsstrahlung x-ray generator was used to expose CR-39 to various doses of 8 keV Cu-K{sub α} and K{sub β} x-rays. The CR-39 detectors were then exposed to 1–5.5 MeV alphas from an Am-241 source. The regions of the CR-39 exposed to x-rays showed a smaller track diameter than those not exposed to x-rays: for example, a dose of 3.0 ± 0.1 Gy causes a decrease of (19 ± 2)% in the track diameter of a 5.5 MeV alpha particle, while a dose of 60.0 ± 1.3 Gy results in a decrease of (45 ± 5)% in the track diameter. The reduced track diameters were found to be predominantly caused by a comparable reduction in the bulk etch rate of the CR-39 with x-ray dose. A residual effect depending on alpha particle energy is characterized using an empirical formula.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Fission Accelerated Steady-state Testing (FAST)

In an effort to accelerate the irradiation time for advanced reactor fuels, a revised capsule design has been analyzed and developed for the Advanced Fuels Campaign (AFC). This design incorporates a highly enriched, reduced diameter fuel pin that is doubly encapsulated by two steel capsules. This design alloys accelerated irradiations and reduced sensitivity to fabrication variances and eccentricities. The capsule designs utilize existing experiment baskets from the AFC capsules in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) outer A position (FAST-OA) and the ATF-1 capsules in the small I position (FAST-SI).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effect of the integral length scales of turbulent inflows on wind turbine loads

As wind turbines become larger, the fluctuations in the inflow become increasingly influential in the turbine structural loading. These fluctuations are characterized by the integral length scale, which represents the average size of the largest energy-containing turbulent eddies. Current design standards neglect the varying integral length scales that characterize inflows of wind turbines in operation. Using large-eddy simulations, we generate turbulent inflows of varying integral length scales and quantify the loads of the IEA 15-MW reference wind turbine. Results illustrate that the impact of turbulence on rotor and tower loads is up to 10 times greater than the impact of the mean shear profile. Increasing integral length scales from 0.3x to 0.5x the rotor diameter reduces blade root flapwise moments and rotor and tower loads. Increasing integral length scales from 0.5x to 1.7x the rotor diameter increases the rotor aerodynamic thrust force and the blade root flapwise shear loads and decreases the tower base torsional moment and the tilting and yawing rotor aerodynamic moments. Additionally, turbulence intensity has a greater impact on wind turbine loads than integral length scales. In conclusion, findings indicate that design standards should consider varying integral length scales for accurate wind turbine loading characterization in turbulent inflow conditions.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Gallium ion implantation greatly reduces thermal conductivity and enhances electronic one of ZnO nanowires

The electrical and thermal conductivities are measured for individual zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires with and without gallium ion (Ga{sup +}) implantation at room temperature. Our results show that Ga{sup +} implantation enhances electrical conductivity by one order of magnitude from 1.01 × 10{sup 3} Ω{sup −1}m{sup −1} to 1.46 × 10{sup 4} Ω{sup −1}m{sup −1} and reduces its thermal conductivity by one order of magnitude from 12.7 Wm{sup −1}K{sup −1} to 1.22 Wm{sup −1}K{sup −1} for ZnO nanowires of 100 nm in diameter. The measured thermal conductivities are in good agreement with those in theoretical simulation. The increase of electrical conductivity origins in electron donor doping by Ga{sup +} implantation and the decrease of thermal conductivity is due to the longitudinal and transverse acoustic phonons scattering by Ga{sup +} point scattering. For pristine ZnO nanowires, the thermal conductivity decreases only two times when its diameter reduces from 100 nm to 46 nm. Therefore, Ga{sup +}-implantation may be a more effective method than diameter reduction in improving thermoelectric performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

In Situ Observation of Acicular Ferrite Nucleation and Growth at Different Cooling Rate in Ti-Zr Deoxidized Steel

The effects of cooling rate on acicular ferrite (AF) nucleation, growth, and inclusion characteristics in Ti-Zr deoxidation steel were studied by utilizing the high temperature confocal laser scanning microscope (HT-CLSM). The results indicated that with the increase of cooling rate, the ferrite start nucleation temperature decreased, and the difference of first nucleation temperature between AF and ferrite side plate (FSP) reduced. When the cooling rate increased to 10.0 °C/s, AF and FSP simultaneously nucleated at 564.5 °C. In addition, the AF actual growth rate rose with the increase of cooling rate and reached 30.13 µm/s at 10.0 °C/s cooling rate. The AF ratio in microstructure increased first and then decreased with the cooling rate increase and was up to the maximum 45.83 pct at 1.0 °C/s cooling rate. For inclusion characteristics, cooling rates had no obvious effect on inclusion types, but had a great influence on inclusions size distribution. With the cooling rate increase, the inclusion average diameter reduced, and diminished to 1.39 µm at 10.0 °C/s cooling rate. Finally, the AF nucleation on the Ti-Zr-Mn-O-S + TiN inclusion could be explained by the low lattice misfit between ferrite and TiN that precipitated on the Ti-Zr-Mn-O-S inclusion surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

The effect of cohesive forces on the fluidization of aeratable powders

The effects of cohesive forces of van der Waals type in the fluidization/defluidization of aeratable type A powders in the Geldart classification are numerically investigated. The effects of friction and particle-size distribution (PSD) on some design-significant parameters, such as minimum fluidization and bubbling velocities, are also investigated. For these types of particles, cohesive forces are observed as necessary to fully exhibit the role friction plays in commonly observed phenomena, such as pressure overshoot and hysteresis around minimum fluidization. This study also shows that a full-experimental PSD consisting of a dozen particle sizes may be sufficiently represented by a few particle diameters. Reducing the number of particle types may benefit the continuum approach, which is based on the kinetic theory of granular flow, by reducing computational expense, while still maintaining the accuracy of the predictions.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Fenestrated Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Using Physician-Modified Stent Grafts (PMSGs) in Zone 0 and Zone 1 for Aortic Arch Diseases

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair (f-TEVAR) using physician-modified stent grafts (PMSGs) in zone 0 and zone 1 for aortic arch diseases. Methods: f-TEVAR using PMSGs in Z0 and Z1 was performed on ten high-risk patients for open surgery from November 2015 to September 2017. Indications were complicated acute type B dissection (ABAD) with retrograde dissection involving the mid-arch (n = 1), distal arch aneurysms (n = 3), mid-arch aneurysms of the inner arch curvature (n = 3) and penetrating aortic ulcer located in the mid- or proximal arch (n = 3). Pre-, intra- and postoperative clinical data were recorded. Results: The median patient age was 61 (range 45–81) years, and 9 (90%) patients were men. Ten PMSGs (Medtronic Valiant stent grafts, n = 1; Relay thoracic stent grafts, n = 4; Cook TX2 device, n = 5) were deployed. PMSGs were deployed from Z0 and Z1 in 5 and 5 patients, respectively. Double small fenestrations for the left subclavian artery (LSA) and the left common carotid artery (LCCA), respectively, were created in 3 patients. Triple small fenestrations for the innominate artery (IA), the LCCA and the LSA, respectively, were created in 2 patients. One large fenestration for both the IA and the LCCA combined with one small fenestration for the LSA was created in 3 patients. One large fenestration for the LCCA combined with one small fenestration for the LSA was created in 2 patients. Posterior diameter-reducing ties were added to all the devices except to one Valiant stent graft. All but 2 patients underwent elective procedure. Median duration for stent graft modifications was 105 (range 90–125) min. The technical success rate was 90%. Overall mortality was 10% (1/10). One patient died of sudden cardiac arrest intraoperatively after the deployment of the PMSG and all the supra-aortic branch stents. Mean operative time was 106.0 ± 43.0 min, and fluoroscopy time was 30.6 ± 22.9 min. There were no type I or type III endoleaks, perioperative neurological complications or spinal cord ischemia. Median length of stay was 8 (range 4–35) days. Nine patients survived at mean 13.3 (range 6.0–19.0) months follow-up. Retrograde dissection occurred in one patient of Z0 group 40 days post-f-TEVAR and resolved after open repair. During follow-up, all target vessels remained patent without fenestration-related type I or III endoleaks. Conclusions: f-TEVAR using PMSGs in Z0 and Z1 for the treatment of aortic arch diseases in high-risk patients is feasible in the hands of experienced operators.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Reproductive biomarkers responses induced by xenoestrogens in the characid fish Astyanax fasciatus inhabiting a South American reservoir: An integrated field and laboratory approach

Field studies evaluating the effects of endocrine disruption chemicals (EDCs) on the fish reproduction are scarce worldwide. The goal of this study was to assess hepatic levels of vitellogenin (Vtg), zona radiata proteins (Zrp) and insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II), and relating them to reproductive endpoints in a wild fish population habiting a reservoir that receive domestic sewage, agricultural and industrial residues. Adult fish Astyanax fasciatus were sampled during the reproductive season in five sites from the Furnas Reservoir, Grande River, and Paraguay–Paraná basin. As a control to field data, fish were experimentally exposed via dietary intake, to oestradiol benzoate (OB) for 7 days. Fish from site with little anthropogenic interference showed hepatic levels of Vtg, Zrp and IGF-I and IGF-II similar to those from the non-treated experimental group. In sites located immediately downstream from the municipal wastewater discharges, the water total oestrogen was >120 ng/l, and male fish displayed increased Vtg and Zrp and decreased IGF-I levels similar to OB treated fish. In females, levels of Vtg, Zrp, IGF-I and IGF-II suggest an impairment of final oocyte maturation and spawning, as also detected by frequency of over-ripening, follicular atresia and fecundity. At the sites that receive agricultural and industrial residues, the water total oestrogen was <50 ng/l and females showed decreased Zrp and increased IGF-II levels associated to reduced diameter of vitellogenic follicles, indicating an inhibition of oocyte growth. Overall, the current study reports oestrogenic contamination impairing the reproduction of a wild fish from a hydroeletric reservoir and, the data contribute to improving the current knowledge on relationship between hepatic Vtg, Zrp and IGF-I and IGF-II, and reproductive endpoints in a teleost fish. In addition, our data point out novel reproductive biomarkers (IGF-I, IGF-II and over-ripening) to assessing xenoestrogenic contamination in freshwater ecosystems. - Highlights: • We point out novel reproductive biomarkers to assess xenoestrogenic contamination. • Field captured fish showed altered hepatic Vtg and Zrp. • Hepatic IGF-I and II levels were associated to reproductive disturbances. • Over-ripening is a better xenoestrogen biomarker than follicular atresia.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Synthesis of Narrow SnTe Nanowires Using Alloy Nanoparticles

Topological crystalline insulator tin telluride (SnTe) provides a rich playground to examine interactions of correlated electronic states, such as ferroelectricity, topological surface states, and superconductivity. The study of SnTe nanowires may lead to even richer physics owing to the one-dimensional (1D) confinement effect and an increased contribution from the topological surface states. Thus, for transport measurements, SnTe nanowires must be synthesized with reduced diameters and high crystalline quality to ensure 1D confinement and phase coherence of the topological surface electrons. Here, we report a facile growth method to produce narrow SnTe nanowires with a high yield using alloy nanoparticles as growth catalysts. The average diameter of the SnTe nanowires grown using alloy nanoparticles is 85 nm, nearly a factor of three reduction compared to the average diameter of 240 nm when using gold nanoparticles as growth catalysts. Transport measurements reveal the effect of the nanowire diameter on the residual resistance ratio and magnetoresistance. Particularly, the ferroelectric transition temperature for SnTe evolves systematically with the nanowire diameter. In situ cryogenic cooling of narrow SnTe nanowires in a transmission electron microscope directly reveals the cubic to rhombohedral structural transition, which is associated with the ferroelectric transition. Thus, these narrow SnTe nanowires represent a model system to study electronic states arising from 1D confinement, such as 1D topological superconductivity and potential multiband superconductivity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

Unveiling Swift Heavy Ion Track Morphology in Sr-Based High-Entropy Perovskites

The incorporation of multiple cations on a single lattice site in the high-entropy oxides is considered the key driving factor for modifying the known atomic-level response to energetic ion irradiation due to the presence of structural disorder; however, these effects are not well-understood yet. In this work, we present atomic-level insight into irradiation-induced nanoscale phase transformations in a perovskite-structured high-entropy oxide, Sr(Zr 0.2 Sn 0.2 Ti 0.2 Hf 0.2 Nb 0.2 )O 3 (Sr(HE)O 3 ), subjected to 774 MeV swift Xe heavy ions, where damage is dominated by inelastic ion−lattice interactions. While these ions generally are known to create nanoscale disordered channels, “ion tracks”, along the penetration direction in the material, this study shows the formation of discontinuous and partially recrystallized ion tracks in Sr(HE)O 3 . Compared to SrTiO 3 irradiated under identical energy loss conditions, the ion tracks in Sr(HE)O 3 exhibit significantly reduced diameters and a markedly different interfacial structure. Notably, the crystalline−amorphous interface in Sr(HE)O 3 shows minimal lattice distortion, confined to approximately 2−3 monolayers, in contrast to the extended disordered shell commonly observed in SrTiO 3 . Using in situ atomic-resolution electron microscopy, we further demonstrate that the amorphous/disordered regions within Sr(HE)O 3 ion tracks remain highly stable under electron irradiation, whereas tracks in SrTiO 3 readily recrystallize. This enhanced stability is attributed to the dominance of structural and chemical complexity arising from multiple B-site cations, which suppress defect migration and templated recrystallization driven by electronic excitations and local heating. Overall, this study highlights how high-entropy oxide chemistry fundamentally reshapes irradiation damage evolution, offering insights into defect formation and phase stability under extreme conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Hydrodynamic instabilities seeded by the X-ray shadow of ICF capsule fill-tubes [X-ray shadow imprint of hydrodynamic instabilities seeded by the fill-tube]

During the first few hundred picoseconds of indirect drive for inertial confinement fusion on the National Ignition Facility, x-ray spots formed on the hohlraum wall when the drive beams cast shadows of the fuel fill-tube on the capsule surface. Differential ablation at the shadow boundaries seeds perturbations which are hydrodynamically unstable under subsequent acceleration and can grow to impact capsule performance. Furthermore, we have characterized this shadow imprint mechanism and demonstrated two techniques to mitigate against it using (i) a reduced diameter fuel fill-tube, and (ii) a pre-pulse to blow down the fill-tube before the shadow forming x-ray spots from the main outer drive beams develop.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

A Revised Capsule Design for the Accelerated Testing of Advanced Reactor Fuels

The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) has been used successfully for the testing of fast reactor fuel for nearly two decades. These successes have been in spite of numerous challenges for testing fast reactor fuel in the ATR (a thermal spectrum reactor), but the solutions to those challenges have resulted in excessively long irradiation times (~10 years) for high-burnup targets as well as experiments that are highly sensitive to fabrication tolerances and eccentricities. This paper presents a solution to the problems of extended irradiation times and fabrication sensitivities. Thermal and neutronic analyses were performed to show that a reduced-diameter fuel pin with an equivalent linear heat generation rate can provide a prototypic thermal profile (peak centerline and inner clad temperature) along with a near-prototypic power profile within the ATR thermal spectrum. This allows the experiment to reach a high burnup in an expeditious timeframe compared to traditional ATR fast fuel irradiations. In addition, problems with fabrication sensitivities were addressed by introducing a double-encapsulated experiment that pushes the high heat flux helium gap farther away from the fuel pin. Fuel pin position eccentricities are also mitigated by using a large sodium bond between the pin and capsule fuel. The advantages and potential pitfalls of this revised design are discussed, including the effect of length scales on fuel system behavior.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗